Your comments: readers react to WasteZero's proposal for a pay-as-you-throw trash collection system

WasteZero, a company based out of South Carolina, has recently proposed a trash collection system where Springfield residents would purchase city bags for their garbage.

Company officials have stated that with the pay-as-you-throw system, city residents and taxpayers could see an annual savings of about $1 million in trash removal costs.

City Councilor Timothy J. Rooke has been supportive of the idea. “I believe this program would be extremely beneficial and rewarding for Springfield,” said Rooke.

Mayor Domenic Sarno has also proposed a new trash collection system where homeowners would be charged a fee based on three different barrel sizes – the smaller the barrel the less the fee. The less trash your home produces then the smaller the barrel needed for that household.

Here is what some of our readers had to say about the proposed trash collection system:

Beehappynow says: I realize that I may be in the minority here, but in my household, I have, at the most, 2 trash bags per pick up (per week), and a very full recycle bin every two weeks. Sometimes I have to hold back recycle and/or ask a neighbor if I can put the remainder of my recycle in their blue single stream bin. Vice Versa, I will offer them to put their extra trash bag in my green, trash bin. People need to be very conscious of what they consider to be trash, vs recycle.

You tell me. At least with pay-per-throw you have some control over how much you spend, right? I think a lot of households could actually come in below 75 bucks a year this way by reducing their own trash stream. It's a win-win if you're not dumping huge amounts of garbage every week.

TenqaciousOne says: I have lived in two communities who already have this system. It does not work. Springfield will not save any money. The cost of picking up trash that is illegally dumped will outweigh the benefits. It is also a tax increase in disguise. Your taxes now pay for trash pick up and they won't go down if the city goes to Pay-Per-throw. The cost of the bags is also NOT a tax deduction.

mayorjoe says: I own and live in my 2 family house. I would rather just keep the trash fee as it is. If anything, I'd like to get another large recycle bin. The amount of work that would go into doing the whole buy bags thing would be a pain. I also know that over the course of the year, with 13 galon bags between my unit and my tennants, if would cost me more for bags than it would just to pay 150 bucks a year. Some people would benifit, but the vast majority would not.